9 November 2024 12:00 am Views - 97
Rishini Weeraratne
| Nimna |
The Designer’s Journey: Education’s Role
Kicking off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2024, ‘The Designer’s Journey: Education’s Role’ brought together two Academy of Design (AOD) alumni, Nimna Wickremasinghe and Sajee Mendes Seneviratne, to explore how education can shape diverse careers in fashion.
Nimna, known for her playful, narrative-driven designs, highlighted her mission to create, ‘little distractions’ through characters and visual storytelling. Her work, which spans merchandise and digital media, invites viewers to interpret each piece uniquely. “A NIMNA piece is whatever you want it to be,” she explained, emphasizing the role of audience perception in completing her art.
In contrast, Sajee’s focus lies in sustainable and cruelty-free fashion. Blending Sri Lankan artisan textiles with contemporary design, her creations champion ethical practices and environmental consciousness. “Fashion is more than aesthetics; it’s a responsibility,” she noted, urging future designers to prioritize mindful fashion.
| Sajee |
The session showcased the breadth of opportunities within the industry, from visual storytelling to sustainability, inspiring students to view fashion as a platform for creativity and social impact. This thought-provoking discussion set an empowering tone for the week ahead, highlighting the transformative power of design education in shaping both personal and global change.
Beyond the Frame: Design as a Multidisciplinary Tool.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2024 continued to inspire with its second session, ‘Beyond the Frame: Design as a Multidisciplinary Tool’, featuring AOD alumni Dulana Ethugala and Rae. The 30-minute talk delved into the evolving role of design in addressing complex cultural and social challenges, highlighting how visual communication can extend beyond traditional boundaries.
Dulana, now a Design Strategist at AOD, shared his journey of using design to explore Sri Lanka’s diverse cultural landscapes. From animation for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to book design and typography initiatives like Akuru Collective, his projects demonstrated design’s power as a bridge between communities.
The session underscored how design education equips individuals with versatile skills, enabling them to tackle challenges across various industries. Both speakers emphasized the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary mindset, showing how design thinking transforms conventional approaches to problem-solving.
For attendees, the talk offered valuable insights into the endless possibilities within the design field, reinforcing the idea that creativity knows no boundaries.
Beyond Aesthetics: Interior Essentials.
MBFW 2024: Day One, also featured, ‘Beyond Aesthetics: Interior Essentials’, an insightful session led by Shenali De Fonseka, Founder and Creative Director of Shenali De Fonseka Interior Design. With over a decade of experience, Shenali is known for her ability to create spaces that seamlessly balance beauty and functionality, and she shared her expertise with a captivated audience of aspiring designers. Shenali discussed the rapidly evolving interior design landscape, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and innovative materials that are shaping the future of the industry. She offered practical advice on building a personal brand and developing the technical skills necessary for success, stressing that great design is about more than aesthetics; it’s about creating environments that enhance daily living.
The session also explored the transformative role of AI and digital tools, illustrating how technology can boost both efficiency and creativity. Shenali highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, an essential consideration for anyone entering the creative field. For attendees, this session was both educational and inspiring, offering valuable insights into how designers can turn challenges into opportunities and create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
Ever Thought About Working at a Museum? What it’s Like in a Career Bridging Art and Culture.
| Shenali De Fonseka |
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2024 offered more than just fashion with ‘Ever Thought About Working at a Museum?’ - an insightful session led by Kaumadi Jayaweera from the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Sri Lanka. This talk shed light on the exciting career opportunities in the museum sector, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the work involved in bridging art and culture.
Kaumadi, Editorial Assistant at MMCA, shared her journey from studying English at the University of Colombo to working at Sri Lanka’s first public museum of modern and contemporary art. She highlighted the museum’s trilingual editorial and translation work, showcasing how her role brings diverse cultural narratives to life.
Attendees gained valuable insights into the museum’s dynamic activities, from publishing research to curating exhibitions. Kaumadi emphasized the importance of collaboration, creativity, and community impact, inspiring students to consider museum work as a meaningful career path. For those passionate about art, culture, and education, this session offered a compelling perspective on how to merge these interests into a fulfilling profession. With practical advice and personal anecdotes, Kaumadi encouraged young professionals to explore the growing opportunities within Sri Lanka’s Museum sector.
| Kaumadi Jayaweera |
Motion Matters: Unlocking Narratives Through Animation and Insights from Industry Experts.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2024 took a dynamic turn with ‘Motion Matters: Unlocking Narratives Through Animation’, an insightful panel discussion featuring leading industry experts and educators. The session highlighted the transformative power of motion graphics and animation in crafting compelling narratives across various platforms.
The panel featured Trishan Joseph Fernandopulle, a seasoned storyboard artist and lecturer; Dinendri Indatissa, an expert in motion graphics and animation narratives; and Mogo Studios’ key figures, Technical Director, Dinura Ratnayake and Production Lead, Siobhan Manuelpillai. Together, they provided a comprehensive overview of animation’s diverse applications, from 2D and 3D animation to stop-motion and motion graphics.
The discussion offered attendees invaluable insights into the evolving animation industry, emphasizing the importance of mastering these skills to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. The panellists shared their personal journeys, creative processes, and the challenges of working on ambitious projects like, ‘The Secret of the Moonstone’, an upcoming animated feature.
| Trishan Fernandopulle |
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Dinura Ratnayake |
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Dinendri Indatissa
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| Krisheni Nanayakkara |
A highlight of the session was the exclusive screening of a trailer for an upcoming independent short film, showcasing the artistry and innovation shaping contemporary animation. For students and young professionals, this talk was an eye-opener, demonstrating how animation can unlock limitless storytelling potential and engagement.
Fashion Marketing and Beyond.
At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2024, ‘Fashion Marketing and Beyond’ offered an inspiring look into the multifaceted world of fashion and creative leadership through the journey of Krisheni Nanayakkara. A multidisciplinary artist with a background in fashion design, makeup artistry, and creative direction, Krisheni shared how her diverse passions shaped her career path. From freelancing as a hair and makeup artist during her studies at AOD to leading creative campaigns at Spa Ceylon, Krisheni highlighted her progression into a leadership role. As Creative Lead, she oversaw content strategy, visual productions, influencer marketing, and digital storytelling, transforming the brand’s narrative across platforms.
Her talk emphasized the importance of blending creative and technical skills to build cohesive brand stories. She shared real-world examples from her campaigns, offering attendees practical insights into how fashion marketing intersects with technology and storytelling. For students and aspiring creatives, the session provided valuable advice on navigating the dynamic fields of fashion and marketing. Krisheni encouraged attendees to embrace multidisciplinary approaches, explore new opportunities, and carve unique career paths in the ever-evolving creative industry.
Creative Entrepreneurs for Social Change.
The grand finale of Day One, ‘Creative Entrepreneurs for Social Change’, hosted by Lankan Angel Network and AOD as part of Sri Lanka Design Festival 2024, brought together five visionary finalists determined to tackle pressing social issues through innovative design. Selected from a pool of exceptional proposals, these finalists presented creative solutions addressing sustainability, community development, education, and healthcare. Each project demonstrated the power of design to create impactful, scalable solutions for real-world challenges. A distinguished panel of judges evaluated the finalists based on creativity, feasibility, social impact, and scalability. The winner will receive personalized mentorship from Lanka Angel Network, providing guidance to transform their idea into a fully operational project capable of making a lasting difference. This inspiring event showcased the ingenuity of Sri Lanka’s emerging creative entrepreneurs, highlighting how design and innovation can drive meaningful social change. For attendees, it was a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of creative thinking, with each project offering a glimpse into a more sustainable and equitable future.